Hitting a brick wall
Posted 04/11/2011 - 16:25
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Is it the beer in Whitby that's making you get these great ideas?
Posted 04/11/2011 - 16:56
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That's brilliant thanks,
It never occurred to me to use props. I suppose I could have moved the little slug off of the ivy and put it on the fungi and maybe found some acorns and strategically placed them.
I've only ever photographed what was there this opens up a whole new world - nature photography and still life in one mix. Now that's got my brain going.
I have got more photos of the stepping stones most are out of focus though because they were difficult to balance on. I'll see if I can sneak away again tomorrow and have another play.
Thanks ever so much - if it's the beer I think I need to import some,
Kind regards
Charlotte
It never occurred to me to use props. I suppose I could have moved the little slug off of the ivy and put it on the fungi and maybe found some acorns and strategically placed them.
I've only ever photographed what was there this opens up a whole new world - nature photography and still life in one mix. Now that's got my brain going.
I have got more photos of the stepping stones most are out of focus though because they were difficult to balance on. I'll see if I can sneak away again tomorrow and have another play.
Thanks ever so much - if it's the beer I think I need to import some,
Kind regards
Charlotte
Posted 04/11/2011 - 20:31
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Hi Stuey,
Yep - I've got plenty of ideas now, it's just getting the camera to see what I see. Tripods aren't very easy to use I've discovered today.
I've just reviewed all the pictures from today actually and said so what to all of them.
French Health and safety doesn't exist. Some of the things that go on over here would make your hair curl. They've only just fixed the chain across the river it was broken for ages and just trying to float down stream.
We went to a fete at a village somewhere a couple of years ago and they had a Funny Car racing up and down the main street, no barriers or anything like that.
You should the electricity supply to my little ruin.
Kind regards
Charlotte
Yep - I've got plenty of ideas now, it's just getting the camera to see what I see. Tripods aren't very easy to use I've discovered today.
I've just reviewed all the pictures from today actually and said so what to all of them.
French Health and safety doesn't exist. Some of the things that go on over here would make your hair curl. They've only just fixed the chain across the river it was broken for ages and just trying to float down stream.
We went to a fete at a village somewhere a couple of years ago and they had a Funny Car racing up and down the main street, no barriers or anything like that.
You should the electricity supply to my little ruin.
Kind regards
Charlotte
Posted 04/11/2011 - 20:59 - Helpful Comment
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A couple more tips:
Don't try to get the camera to see what you see, try to see what the camera sees. Your visualisation is selective, you can block out things that are not important to you and increase the relative impact of things that are important. A camera can't do that, it assigns equal importance to everything it sees.
Use the difficulty of using a tripod as an adavantage. Taking (plenty of) time to previsualise a scene will help to get the tripod set up right.
Don't try to get the camera to see what you see, try to see what the camera sees. Your visualisation is selective, you can block out things that are not important to you and increase the relative impact of things that are important. A camera can't do that, it assigns equal importance to everything it sees.
Use the difficulty of using a tripod as an adavantage. Taking (plenty of) time to previsualise a scene will help to get the tripod set up right.
Posted 04/11/2011 - 21:13
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Quote:
Don't try to get the camera to see what you see, try to see what the camera sees. Your visualisation is selective, you can block out things that are not important to you and increase the relative impact of things that are important. A camera can't do that, it assigns equal importance to everything it sees.
That is really good advice - I hadn't thought about it like that. I had obviously blocked the sight of the plant behind one of the fungi because I was concentrating on the object, but the camera saw it ..... things are starting to click into place now. Don't try to get the camera to see what you see, try to see what the camera sees. Your visualisation is selective, you can block out things that are not important to you and increase the relative impact of things that are important. A camera can't do that, it assigns equal importance to everything it sees.
Thank you I really appreciate the help,
Kind regards
Charlotte
Posted 04/11/2011 - 21:38
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That's exactly right, Charlotte. I spent loads of time taking photos that were spoilt by things I hadn't noticed because I was concentrating on the main subject. (I still do that plenty of times). You need to see what is going to be in the whole frame.
But the important thing, as has been intimated, is what you actually want from the shot. Try to make a single object the main point of interest and have it in the right place in the shot. Try to have an interesting foreground, middle and background.
These are quite general ideas but when you get it right it will be obvious. Keep trying! You're going fine.
But the important thing, as has been intimated, is what you actually want from the shot. Try to make a single object the main point of interest and have it in the right place in the shot. Try to have an interesting foreground, middle and background.
These are quite general ideas but when you get it right it will be obvious. Keep trying! You're going fine.
This space deliberately left blank.
Posted 04/11/2011 - 23:25
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The first Mushroom shot in particular is great and the others are very good, notwithstanding the plants sprouting out of the mushroom! I would love to see you posting some shots of varied subjects - I think that all that is lacking is a little confidence in your own ability.
Regards
David
Regards
David
Posted 04/11/2011 - 23:49
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Charlotte, it is always hard when the dark cloud cometh, I have sold complete systems when inspiration has gone.
From your last postings, it looks like you are digging yourself out of this. Time for reflection, revisit your old shots, take reassurance from them of your ability.
Like you I do not like to intrude on peoples space, but force myself to engage with strangers, get their permission to photograph, forget the camera and chat. You can then take time to see if there is a picture worth having.
Looking forward to see if your landscapes develop, they may just inspire as your macros do
Kind regards
Nigel
From your last postings, it looks like you are digging yourself out of this. Time for reflection, revisit your old shots, take reassurance from them of your ability.
Like you I do not like to intrude on peoples space, but force myself to engage with strangers, get their permission to photograph, forget the camera and chat. You can then take time to see if there is a picture worth having.
Looking forward to see if your landscapes develop, they may just inspire as your macros do
Kind regards
Nigel
Posted 05/11/2011 - 13:52
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darkskies wrote:
That's exactly right, Charlotte. I spent loads of time taking photos that were spoilt by things I hadn't noticed because I was concentrating on the main subject. (I still do that plenty of times). You need to see what is going to be in the whole frame.
But the important thing, as has been intimated, is what you actually want from the shot. Try to make a single object the main point of interest and have it in the right place in the shot. Try to have an interesting foreground, middle and background.
These are quite general ideas but when you get it right it will be obvious. Keep trying! You're going fine.
It's really obvious when you think about it isn't it. I think I need to think more.That's exactly right, Charlotte. I spent loads of time taking photos that were spoilt by things I hadn't noticed because I was concentrating on the main subject. (I still do that plenty of times). You need to see what is going to be in the whole frame.
But the important thing, as has been intimated, is what you actually want from the shot. Try to make a single object the main point of interest and have it in the right place in the shot. Try to have an interesting foreground, middle and background.
These are quite general ideas but when you get it right it will be obvious. Keep trying! You're going fine.
I've also got into the habit of taking photos too quickly, I suppose that's understandable with insects likely to disappear in a second but a mushroom or river etc. is not going anywhere so I can slow down and take all the time I need to get things right.
Thanks, I intend to keep trying - I'm looking forward to that buzz I get when I get something spot on again.
Kind regards
Charlotte
Posted 05/11/2011 - 14:00
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davidstorm wrote:
The first Mushroom shot in particular is great and the others are very good, notwithstanding the plants sprouting out of the mushroom! I would love to see you posting some shots of varied subjects - I think that all that is lacking is a little confidence in your own ability.
Regards
David
Thanks again David,The first Mushroom shot in particular is great and the others are very good, notwithstanding the plants sprouting out of the mushroom! I would love to see you posting some shots of varied subjects - I think that all that is lacking is a little confidence in your own ability.
Regards
David
I think it's my ability that's lacking at the moment - both in terms of imagination and actual knowledge of how to.
It took over half an hour to get a shot with a long exposure of the river without it being so overexposed all you could see was white. I think I got there in the end so I've learned something new. Well actually I learned lot's of things yesterday.
Kind regards
Charlotte
Posted 05/11/2011 - 14:05
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trickletreat wrote:
Charlotte, it is always hard when the dark cloud cometh, I have sold complete systems when inspiration has gone.
From your last postings, it looks like you are digging yourself out of this. Time for reflection, revisit your old shots, take reassurance from them of your ability.
Like you I do not like to intrude on peoples space, but force myself to engage with strangers, get their permission to photograph, forget the camera and chat. You can then take time to see if there is a picture worth having.
Looking forward to see if your landscapes develop, they may just inspire as your macros do
Kind regards
Nigel
Hi Nigel,Charlotte, it is always hard when the dark cloud cometh, I have sold complete systems when inspiration has gone.
From your last postings, it looks like you are digging yourself out of this. Time for reflection, revisit your old shots, take reassurance from them of your ability.
Like you I do not like to intrude on peoples space, but force myself to engage with strangers, get their permission to photograph, forget the camera and chat. You can then take time to see if there is a picture worth having.
Looking forward to see if your landscapes develop, they may just inspire as your macros do
Kind regards
Nigel
Thank you.
I've had a look back to the photos I was taking in March when I first got this camera and I think I have improved a bit since then so that's reassuring. Just need to keep trying and learning and hopefully improve some more.
Hubby reckons I'm overcritical of myself but I don't think I am - I know the camera is capable of brilliant things and I just need to do it justice.
Thanks again to everyone,
Charlotte
Posted 05/11/2011 - 14:49
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This is one of the most interesting topics I have ever read - so many good ideas. I'm going to take a copy of it to help me.
Charlotte - I think we all hit a brick wall at some time, either feeling uninspired or, like me, the feeling that I'm not progressing. Learning is always uphill followed by a plateau and it's when you feel you're stuck on the plateau that it's frustrating.
I have always enjoyed looking at your macros and it seems that you have a natural eye for composition in your landscapes.
It looks to me as if you have already moved onwards and upwards
Charlotte - I think we all hit a brick wall at some time, either feeling uninspired or, like me, the feeling that I'm not progressing. Learning is always uphill followed by a plateau and it's when you feel you're stuck on the plateau that it's frustrating.
I have always enjoyed looking at your macros and it seems that you have a natural eye for composition in your landscapes.
It looks to me as if you have already moved onwards and upwards
Posted 05/11/2011 - 18:59
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Hi Blaze,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad other people are finding this thread useful as well.
I'm always grateful to the people on here who are willing to share tips and their experience with those of us who are new to photography. It's invaluable to people like me who don't know any photographers personally to ask.
If it decides to stop pouring hard I might be able to get out side and put some of these ideas into use.
Kind regards
Charlotte
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad other people are finding this thread useful as well.
I'm always grateful to the people on here who are willing to share tips and their experience with those of us who are new to photography. It's invaluable to people like me who don't know any photographers personally to ask.
If it decides to stop pouring hard I might be able to get out side and put some of these ideas into use.
Kind regards
Charlotte
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3642 posts
17 years
Falkirk
In both the stream shots you have taken quite 'obvious' photographs. The stepping stones have more to photograph.
Firstly, don't feel that you have to photograph all of the stones and they don't all have to be in focus. Get closer to one end, use a wide aperture and throw the rest into the background. Or photograph a single stone and concentrate on the texture.
Keep changing your shooting angle. Move further, nearer, higher lower. And if you are really feeling brave (and it's warm and safe enough to do so) wade into the river and get the photo from below.
But in each case have it clear in your mind what you are photographing. Is it the stone, the stream, a single leaf. Never make the mistake of thinking that you have to have everything in the shot
Although some might call it cheating, try adding props. What if two dolls/teddy bears are helping each other across? What if there was a boot (or a pair of boots) on one of the rocks?
As I say, just my thoughts....